Polling...why is it done? It shouldn't be.
More often than not throughout the 2016 Presidential Election Cycle, it is my staunch opinion that polling has dramatically affected the path for both the Democratic and Republican races.
Polling has swayed people to vote a certain way...which, quite frankly, boggles my mind...because I had hoped that Americans were more independent (lower-case i) and more individualized. I had also hoped that voters across our great nation were more sophisticated with their thinking. But unfortunately, it has become altogether apparent that the electorate of our country are simply playing a game of "Follow The Leader."
Democrats Abroad) with 1,189 pledged and super delegates (to date)...is beyond comprehension. I blame my own industry - the media...which is responsible for the polling - for the success...to this point...that both Sanders and Trump have been able to attain with their campaigns.
Hillary Clinton should have walked away with the Democratic nomination...with virtually no competition whatsoever. That being said, the former Secretary Of State has (to date) won 21 states and territories with 1,930 pledged and super delegates. Mrs. Clinton only needs 453 delegates to definitively become her party's nominee.As I always have, I still believe that Secretary Clinton will be elected the 45th President Of The United States. However, the former First Lady should have rightfully locked up the Democratic nomination after "Super Tuesday" on March 1st. But the muckraking commentators from television, radio, the newspapers, magazines and Internet...wanted a shooting match. The media has done all that it could to encourage voters that Hillary Clinton was not the only choice for the Democrats in 2016. And the constant - almost daily - polls and surveys...by the networks and others...have bended the minds of some liberals and progressives...to support a Socialist who cannot sweep the Democratic nomination...and cannot win The White House.
On the other hand - with the Republicans - there is no doubt in my mind that the excessive amount of free advertising that has been provided by every TV news program - especially those that appear on the 24-hour cable networks - has created the monster candidate that is Donald Trump. After all...one primary night...CNN, Fox and MSNBC each gave Trump approximately 45 minutes...for a victory speech...which was nothing more than a campaign contribution by three major television companies.
The media has practically forced Trump down the throats of Republicans - and for that matter - all of America. And why? One word. Money. Since the very first Republican Debate, ratings for the broadcast and cable networks have skyrocketed... and viewership has been through the roof. That equals an abundance of advertising...and that means more money.
But Trump and Sanders voters - in many cases - have been brainwashed in to thinking that the real estate mogul or the Vermont Senator can win the Presidency. I don't believe that either can.
I'm amazed that American adults have been befuddled by polling...by political pundits...and by others...who want people to think...what they think...because that's what they're paid to do.
Too many voters choose a candidate because they are manipulated by the system...and by the polling numbers that are being provided by TV, radio and the like. So here's a suggestion to all the media of The United States. In 2020... #NoMorePolling...during the Presidential campaigns. Let Americans make their decisions based on credible information...and based on listening to the candidates...not based on numbers.
There are those who call polling and computer models...progress. I call it...misleading...and deceitful.
And that's The Controversy for today.
I'm Gary B. Duglin.
"We'll talk again."
The Controversy is a publication of GBD Productions. Founder and Editor-In-Chief of The Controversy is Gary B. Duglin.
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Photo credits: theonion.com (Mr. Donald Trump), newyorker.com (Senator Bernie Sanders) plus CNN and slate.com (former Secretary Of State Hillary Clinton)
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I am not Trump fan, yes I will vote for him over Hillary. But you don’t get it, the reason he is so popular is that he says what many people are feeling. What the Democrats have done over the last 7 plus years makes people mad as hell. Destruction of our health care, the worst foreign policy since Carter, ISIS , Bengasi , Iran deal, relations with Russia all failures and the list goes on. As for you saying about Hillary, she should have walked away with it, I can’t believe that I will agree with Sanders when he said “Hillary Clinton is not qualified to be president” she is not. I don’t think that people have been “brainwashed” to vote for Trump, and yes he can win. Remember none of us know what the FBI will come out with from their criminal investigation of Hillary. I know that the Attorney General will not allow for her to be indicted, President Obama will see to that. We can hope that Jim Comey will then go public with it. The only thing I agree with you on is that is the mainstream media does have too much power in choosing our candidates. They way to stop it is to go with four primary dates in May or June , east one week, the west following week , then the north and then the south. The campaign should not be a yearlong fight, six or eight weeks and done.
ReplyDeleteIt always amazes me when Republicans use a forum to attack a Democrat...especially when that Democrat is Hillary Clinton. The subject of my commentary above was to criticize the polling system that is used during political campaigns and elections. But as usual, you used this forum to bring up issues that have nothing to do with my essay. I certainly hope that you are not a doctor...specifically a surgeon. You just might amputate a foot...because of a blister. GBD
DeleteYour reply Gary is laughable. You claim your commentary is about polling yet you state the “Hillary Clinton should have walked away with the Democratic nomination” comments like that need to be challenged. Should the democrats have just given her the nomination, the heck with what the people want? You claim the media “has created a monster candidate that is Donald Trump” yes, has he gotten more coverage then maybe he should have, but the people have voted and maybe we (many) don’t agree with how he says many things but we agree with much of what he says. I don’t think you give the American voter enough credit, they are not brainwashed or befuddled, they are mad as hell and don’t want to take any more. The Conservatives are mad that the GOP has not stood up to Obama and his far left wing, in many cases unconstitutional agenda. The far left feel that Obama and the Democrats haven’t gone far enough giving away things and want America to be a socialistic country. The polling hasn’t caused this it has just brought it into the light of day. Your commentary is just a way to try and justify why Hillary isn’t running away with it. As the left always does blame someone else, this time the pollsters and the media. Maybe it's her!
ReplyDeleteI'm only laughing at your remarks, which are totally off-base. Bernie Sanders was never going to be able to get the Democratic nomination and, although he had every right to run against Hillary Clinton, he should have backed out after "Super Tuesday" on March 1st. Donald Trump is a "monster candidate" and the media has helped create the "Frankenstein" that's in him to come forward. Yes, Republicans who support Trump have been "brainwashed" because there is no way possible that Trump could ever do what he states. Remember one thing - and this is why I'm still not so sure whether Trump will ever get the GOP nomination - the billionaire businessman does not have a majority of the Republican votes. Combine Cruz and Kasich and they overtake him. Wait to see if there is a contested convention. As for the Democrats, now that Hillary won 4 of the 5 primaries in the April 26th primaries, Bernie needs to go home to Vermont. He's got to allow Hillary to campaign against the Republicans and not Sanders. Hillary Clinton will win the Democratic nomination and she will be elected the 45th President of the United States. GBD
DeleteLook at what Obama did to healthcare in America: built a new house because the doorbell was broken.
ReplyDeletePresident Obama gave millions of Americans healthcare who were unable to afford it. Plus, the President - through the Affordable Care Act - gave those Americans with pre-existing conditions, a way to get health insurance. I won't even go further on all the other important points of the Affordable Care Act. The Affordable Care Act does need to be made better, but Hillary Clinton, when President, will do so. President Obama would have given us a better Affordable Care Act if the Republican Congress had been in agreement with him on more. GBD
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